Tokyo - TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION (TMC) announces it will display 45 concept and production vehicles, in separate Toyota and Lexus brand booths, at the 7th China (Guangzhou) International Automobile Exhibition (also known as Auto Guangzhou 2009), to be held at the Guangzhou International Convention and Exhibition Center from November 23 to 30. The theme for the two booths is “The Environment, Safety, and the Future”.

The Lexus “GX 460”, a midsize SUV, will make its world premiere at a press briefing scheduled for November 23. Also on display for Lexus will be the “ES 240” and other models. The Toyota display will include the new “Crown”, which will go into production and go on sale in China in December this year, the third-generation “Prius” and the “Camry Hybrid”.

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By Bill Clark

Pros:

• Bavarian-like ride and handling!
• Comfy leather seats
• Interior and exterior styling

Cons:

• Feels underpowered even with the upgraded V6
• Torque steer when driven hard (front wheel drive model)
• Terrible ergonomics and User interface for electronics

Station wagons carry lots of stuff and drive like regular cars, but they have been labeled the most uncool cars in the world. People seem to avoid them like the plague. Large SUVs are great, but synonymous with gas guzzling and poor handling - and many are based on rough-riding truck chassis. There’s a great middle-ground called the crossover segment and Chevy has made a valiant effort to capture their fair share of this emerging market with the newly restyled Equinox. I’d go so far as to say they’ve built a crossover that can legitimately compete with the popular Japanese and European offerings. Really!

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2010 is just around the corner and Toyota is ready to release the next generation of their midsize SUV - the 4Runner. The all-new 5th generation 4Runner is due to arrive at dealerships late November and CarReview was invited to preview Toyota’s midsize SUV.

Staying true to its origins, the new 4Runner is built on a traditional body-on-frame chassis and can get serious when straying off the beaten path. With body panels blockier than a pit bull’s head, the new 4Runner looks stocky, very muscular, and more athletically capable than Bo Jackson (before his hip-replacement surgery). A completely redesigned interior and unique cargo area make the newest 4Runner smarter, more comfortable, and more versatile than ever. Available in three models, top-of-the-line Limited, a well-equipped SR5, and the Trail grade for those who require maximum off-road capability.

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Here are a few terms that our reviewers used to describe the Volvo XC60 earlier this year: “safe,” “sexy,” “usable combination of horsepower and torque,” but apparently they forgot to say, “might protect you from getting your face ripped off.”

Like with its release of a Volvo-themed video game, the company is skewing to buyers of wine coolers and Axe with its Twilight Saga: New Moon “What Drives Edward” contest. However, the message is as confused as Edward Cullen at a blood drive.

For those of you just returning from solitary: Edward Cullen is…; wait, let’s start with: Twilight is; nevermind, if you don’t know, maybe you should commit another crime and get sent back to the hole because you are too far behind to catch up.

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By Holly R.

Pros:

• Shocking (and decent) acceleration when already at speed (from 0 to 60, not so good)
• Mileage, mileage, mileage!!!!
• Microsoft SYNC
• Sirius Satellite Radio
• Built-in Bluetooth

Cons:

• The interior is a bit noisy on the freeway (which hampers the SYNC a bit)
• While still a value car, the interior did feel a “bit” cheap

Fuel Economy:
EPA Estimates: 24 in the city, and 33 highway (or 27 combined)
Actual: 31.2 mpg

I was pretty luke-warm on driving the Ford Focus.  But I decided to clear all my preconceptions out and just review it for what it is:  an American-made compact car.  Honestly, it really surprised me.  Our model was the top-end car, and was packed with thoughtful features.  Most impressive of all (to me):  the voice-activated Ford SYNC System, and the fuel economy numbers!

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It wouldn’t be SEMA without the gratuitous hotness showing off the latest products in the booths by some of Las Vegas’ very puurrrty girls. We managed to capture many of them in their most sultry poses and thanking the electronic genius for auto-focus and steady-shot. Otherwise our shaking hands would have produced a lot of barely-in-focus, fuzzy pictures. But I have a feeling that you would look at them anyway.

Below are a few of my favorites. I apologize for not getting their measurements, interests, and favorite past time. Our complete collection can be found in the photo gallery.

Click on any image for the full size version

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By Twain Mein

Pros:

• Very quite and well-damped ride
• Beautifully appointed interior
• Massive dual-panel panoramic sunroof
• Incredible THX-certified sound system
• Exterior styling

Cons:

• Visibility
• iPhone syncing
• 3^rd row leg room and overhead space
• Exterior styling (!)

Introduction

The 2010 Lincoln MKT is Ford’s up-scale version of the Ford Flex “crossover”. Crossover is taking a traditional car platform and extending it to give the space of an SUV. Many SUV’s, like the Chevy Tahoe, are built on truck chassis (”body on frame”) versus a car chassis (”unibody” construction where the body is structural). By enlarging a car unibody, crossovers promise the space of an SUV with ride and handling of a traditional car. The Lincoln is built on the same D4 platform as the Ford Flex, and it distinguishes itself with aggressive styling and luxurious amenities. The D4 platform is a “stretched” version of the D3 platform which originally underpinned the ‘03 Volvo XC90 as well as the Ford Taurus. These Swedish genetics are good assets for Ford/Lincoln which provide a rigid structure and competent chassis. The version we tested had the base 3.7 liter, 270 hp Duratec engine and was optioned for a ~$49,000 price tag.

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This video is a quick look at a new car and new tracks for Gran Turismo 5, featuring the Toyota FT-86 Concept car. The rear-wheel drive coupe that will be badged as a Toyota was co-developed with Subaru (who provides the engine) and will make its world debut at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show. The name FT-86 is a nod to the popular RWD Corolla AE86 of the mid-1980s. The production version of the 2+2 FT-86 sports coupe, is due to go on sale towards the end of 2011. The engine is from Subaru and is a front-mounted, 2.0-liter four-cylinder boxer engine, a naturally aspirated version of Subaru’s 2.0-liter flat flour normally found in the Impreza that Toyota will massage to boost output closer to 200 horsepower. This is the same engine that, when turbocharged, cranks out 250HP and is found in Subaru’s much loved WRX.

View the video and photo gallery after the jump

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Hey Everyone at CarReview.com - It’s Thomas, founder of Microcarmag.com, here with my Day 1 report from the 2009 SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

Day 1 started with such fury as we witnessed the unveiling of some killer rides and heard announcements from some of the major automakers in our industry! The very first unveiling had Peter Klut from Dream Car Garage, a SPEED Channel show following the work of Peter’s crew at Legendary Motorcar, showing us an awesome 1970 Super Cuda that combined classic design with carbon fiber and Chip Foose green paint at the BASF paint booth.  Klut’s special guest at the unveiling was none other than the famous designer Chip Foose!  This unveiling was just the tip of the iceberg for our Day 1.

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The 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour is schizo. On the one hand, it is glomming onto the trend that Europe has known forever – 5 door hatches are the most efficient layout, but at the same time, I think the intention was to semi-obscure its hatchiness because looking too much like a wagon is a big Brady Bunch no, no these days—unless you’re a weird sta-wag fetishist. However, isn’t this just the emperor’s new Accord Wagon, with better handling?

I also think Honda was excited by the Crosstour’s hauling capabilities, at least compared to the sedan, but with just 51 cubic feet of cargo space versus the Venza’s 70 cubic feet, it means 1.5 fewer sorority girls will fit back there and that alone might make the Venza more attractive to some, not to mention the fact that the Crosstour goes from 0-60 in just 7.5 seconds, a whopping half-second lower than the Venza. Plus, girls don’t like schizos. Ok, Jennifer Connelly did in “A Beautiful Mind”, but I don’t think she’d be riding in the back of a Honda Crosstour. Or the front for that matter, but I digress. Let’s talk about the basics.

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By Derek Mau

Pros

• Excellent for around town driving and taking care of all the necessary family functions
• The benefits of a hybrid without sacrificing luxury amenities
• Conservative styling upgrade easily blends in with the thousands of other Lexus RX’s on the road today
• More technology gadgets but with less driver distraction

Cons

• Batteries and electric motors add up to a serious weight penalty with regards to braking and cornering
• Electronic steering control is good for mothers on their way to PTA meetings, but not so good for relaying feedback from the road
• Horrific blind spot
• No towing capacity

The new generation Lexus RX blends the geekiness of high technology with the green consciousness of driving a hybrid car. Launched in the summer of 2009 as a successor to the RX 400h, Lexus’ new RX 450h builds on the success of the company’s first luxury hybrid SUV. Visually similar to the RX 350, the 450h has a few of its own unique styling features, including an exclusive grille, hybrid badging with blue-trimmed Lexus logos, unique front bumper, special 19-inch wheels, blue-tinted headlamps and taillamps, and optional LED headlamps.

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Look, it’s even more good news out of Detroit. What with Ford actually making a profit, it looks like all the doom and gloom about the number of dealers set to be shuttered might have been estimated on the high side.

At least that’s the case if you believe David Cole, who is Chairman of the nonprofit Center for Automotive Research. Cole told federal investigators that he thought General Motor’s and Chrysler’s projected dealership cuts will reduce market share in small to mid-sized markets. Cole summed it up by saying, “These cuts didn’t make any sense to me.”

David Cole cautioned the investigators that he has no research expertise or experience working directly with dealerships, and that he was asked to come speak only after he sent a letter to the Obama administration’s auto task force earlier this month stating his case for fewer dealership terminations. Although Chairman Cole did agree that terminations in larger metropolitan areas were in fact justified, he made the case that the automakers would be harming their historical stronghold in rural areas as well as modest-sized markets with many of the planned dealership terminations.

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The 2009 SEMA show started off with a lot of energy and optimism for the new year that is almost at our door. New ideas, renewed enthusiasm, and the penchant for going bigger while being eco-conscious all in the same breath. Below are a few photos that our friends from Microcarmag.com sent us. The full set can be found in the CarReview photo gallery.

More interesting tidbits and a lot more exciting stuff to follow in the next few days. Click on the thumbnail  below to view the fullsize image.

Ken Block Monster Subaru

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Interesting news from Mercedes-Benz when they announced that they are planning to open a new alternative powertrain technology center. Based on the campus of Mercedes’ Redford Township, Michigan facility, the German company made the announcement shortly after the township approved a tax exemption.

The Detroit Free Press said that Redford Township’s tax exemption would allow Mercedes-Benz to purchase $2.3 million worth of equipment for use at the Redford site. Located just 15 miles outside of the Detroit city limits, the move announced by Mercedes can only be seen as positive for an area struggling during the recent economic downturn.

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Now that hybrids and fuel-efficient cars are in vogue with the public eye, the shift towards reducing our carbon footprint is gaining momentum with the carmakers and the associated industries. Yokohama has made great strides in this green direction by producing an orange-oil infused tire that replaces 80 percent of its content with non-petroleum based products, has significantly lower rolling resistance, and has a new technology tire liner that holds air much better than the old-fashioned butyl tire liners without sacrificing performance. Read our article explaining the virtues of the dB Super E-Spec tire HERE.

If you desire more concrete evidence, Tire Rack published the results of their low-rolling resistance tire test that centered used a Toyota Prius as their test vehicle and subjected the new generation of low-resistance tires to a battery of tests (braking, cornering, mpg performance, etc.). Yokohama’s formal press release and link to the Tire Rack test follows after the jump.

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